Every winter there are days when a big north-west swell wraps round Anchor Point and the whole village walks out to the headland to watch. Sets breaking way outside the normal take-off, the channel full of whitewater, a handful of people in the water and everyone else on the rocks with their phones. Those are great days to watch Anchor. For most people, they're not days to surf it.
When Anchor is too big for you
There's no single number, but be honest with yourself. Anchor is at its best somewhere between four and ten feet. Past that, the paddle back up the point against the current turns into a workout, getting in and out over the rocks gets properly dangerous, and a caught-inside set can push you a long way down the point. If you aren't comfortable at the top of that range on your home breaks, it's already too big.
What to look for from the car park
Before you even touch your wax, sit on the rocks for fifteen minutes and watch.
- Sets breaking wide of the usual peak. If waves are landing outside where people are sitting, the line-up is going to get cleaned up.
- The water between sets. A lot of white water and a fast current running along the point means a long, tiring paddle back.
- The people in the water. If only a few locals are out and everyone else is watching, there's a reason.
- The way in and out. Watch someone come in over the rocks. If they're struggling, so will you.
If you tick two of those, go and find a smaller wave. There's nothing brave about getting hurt on your second day.
Where to go instead
Head south to Tamraght and Aourir
This is what most people do. The same swell arrives a bit smaller and softer by the time it reaches Tamraght. Banana Point in Aourir is a long right that often stays clean when the northerly wind is up, and on a big day it can be the best wave on the coast for good intermediates. It gets crowded, though, because everyone has the same idea.
The beach breaks at Devil's Rock and Crocro are the other options. On a big swell they can close out, and the rips get strong, so pick a spot that's breaking properly rather than just the closest one.
Panoramas
At the south end of Taghazout village, Panoramas can still be surfable when the points are huge, but it has its own strong currents when there's size. Watch it first.
Imsouane
If you've got a car and a free day, Imsouane is about an hour and a quarter north. The bay sits behind a headland and turns a big Atlantic swell into long, mellow rights. It's a great trip, and our Imsouane guide has the details.
Don't go north for a smaller wave
Killer Point and Boilers hold big swell, but they're harder than Anchor, not easier. Tamri picks up even more swell than the Taghazout points. On a day when Anchor is too much for you, all three will be too.
Honest limits
On the biggest swells of the winter, nowhere nearby is truly small. Even the sheltered spots have strong rips and heavy shore-break. Some days the right call is to watch from the headland with a mint tea, go to the Paradise Valley, and come back tomorrow.
Check the size and the hourly score for every spot on the forecast page before you drive anywhere.